[Solarflares]

There's nothing special about NOS tubes.
   

Yeah. Tell all that to a WW2 Mosquito night-fighter navigator, operating his life-preserving radar 15,000ft up, in freezing temperatures over occupied Europe.
Then show him the horror stories of the last 40 years of esoteric tube production on the Steve Hoffman 211, 300B, and 845 threads, for example.

[FullRangeMan]

Our last source of decent tubes are Russia, still there is great sound power tubes at low prices there, as 6C18, 6C33, GM70, GK71, GMI11, GU50, GU72 and many others.

[/mp]

Yes. They should make the Audio-Circle registration process harder!

An IQ test to qualify for an internet connection would also go a long way.

There's an old saying. When the gods are feeling particularly vicious, they give us exactly what we ask for.

[JakeJ]

Umm...this thread is not about bashing modern tube production or that the only tubes to buy are NOS regardless of price so let the pontificating end now.  Please reread the OP's thread title.  It's simple, which 211 tubes do members prefer, which ones to avoid, descriptions of sound quality, soundstage, tonal quality, bass, treble, midrange.  I agree NOS tubes almost always sound better but budgetary common sense rules in my microscopic world.  Leave any dirty laundry at home, please.

Mention of tubes that failed prematurely or that just disappointed are fine but let's leave the dirty laundry at home.  For reference, stating the amp make and model would be beneficial.

Carry on.

[JakeJ]

Just so everyone is on the same page, the OP's question is about the 211 power triode.



Not the 6SG7 pentode.  Usually came in a metal can the glass version Solareflares referenced are fairly rare.



Here is the 6SG7 data sheet.